The great thing about Frankie's is that even though it's Tiki Revival, it still has a mid-century Las Vegas soul. I'm glad that P. Moss left the exterior and original signage intact.

I had an interesting conversation there this last weekend. A weathered older gentleman came in on Saturday afternoon and ordered a Long Island Ice Tea. He commented on how much the place had changed. I asked him how long he had been coming in. Here's how our conversation went:

He: "Let me ask you a question. Who were the first people in Las Vegas?"
JOHN-O: "That would have been the Indians."
He: "OK, who came next?"
JOHN-O: "The Mormons."
He: (impressed) "OK, and then after that?"
JOHN-O: "I would have to say organized crime."
He: "Wrong, it was the Railroad(ers)."

He said he worked on the railroad and that Frankie's had been a former hangout for those workers. He had been coming in for decades. He insisted that the bar (under a different name?) had been in operation since the 1940's. I told him that would make it the oldest operational bar in town. I was skeptical since I thought Frankie's dated back to 1964 and Atomic Liquors has the first LV liquor license from the early 1950's. At any rate, he seemed pretty sure of this fact.

He then went on to complain how the former management fired one of his favorite bartenders because she was getting too old and that the place went to hell after that. I would have kept our conversation going but then some young hipster dude came in and sat between us.

"Hipster dude" was a downtown bartender who had come in for the first time, always wondering what was inside the funky building. He was ordering shots and beers, but I then suggested one of the Tropical specialties. He ordered a Zombie and after the first sip, expressed a "Whoaa !!". Another Tikiphile is born.

Gotta love Frankie's. Along with keeping former decades-old customers, it's a major discovery for a new generation.

He: "Let me ask you a question. Who were the first people in Las Vegas?"
JOHN-O: "That would have been the Indians."
He: "OK, who came next?"
JOHN-O: "The Mormons."
He: (impressed) "OK, and then after that?"
JOHN-O: "I would have to say organized crime."
He: "Wrong, it was the Railroad(ers)."

[ This Message was edited by: JOHN-O 2009-12-21 11:16 ]

I was just watching a DVD series about the Mob and Vegas, and it said the same thing: The railroad workers.

I am the bass player for Thee Swank Bastards and DJ Beelzebozo Partidge. Just Letting all of you know that every First Friday I will be spinning records in Frankie's from 10pm till at least 2am. On the platter will be surf, exotica, garage, and a tad bit of soul and funk. Call me at 702-324-3848 or email me at shaunwcoleman@gmail.com I expect to see you all there.

I am the bass player for Thee Swank Bastards and DJ Beelzebozo Partidge. Just Letting all of you know that every First Friday I will be spinning records in Frankie's from 10pm till at least 2am. On the platter will be surf, exotica, garage, and a tad bit of soul and funk. Call me at 702-324-3848 or email me at shaunwcoleman@gmail.com I expect to see you all there.

My latest read is a collection of short stories written by a long-renowned Las Vegas saloon owner that begins with the sentence: "Two naked girls."

This is how "Blue Vegas," by P Moss, is ignited. I got my mitts on an advance copy of this collection of 17 based-in-Vegas short stories during a late-night visit to Frankie's Tiki Room on Friday. The "Blue Vegas" official release date is March 2, its listed price is $14.95, and its published by CityLife Books, a division of Stephens Press (owned by the company that owns the Review-Journal). The amassed stories, with such titles as "The Curse of Frank Sinatra," "Plastic Jesus," and "The 8:16 To Nowheresville" promise to reflect Moss' obtuse observations of a city he adopted as his hometown when he opened Double Down Saloon in 1992.

Moss said Friday that his plans to expand beyond the two Vegas taverns and Double Down
in New York are on hold, for now.
Be happy with what you have, is how he termed it.

Always inventive with his cocktail selection, Moss also mentioned that Frankie's offers one of the city's most extensive rum collections. An example: Just one case of the 30-year-old Appleton Estate Rum has been distributed in the state of Nevada. Frankie's has two bottles, which retail for just under $500 apiece, and is sold at $79 a shot at the Tiki Room. The other 10 bottles are owned by Manardin Oriental at CityCenter. It's a pretty heady inventory for a man whose most famous drink is either Ass Juice or the Bacon Martini, both served at Double Down.
(I was tempted to try this 30-year-old rum,
but it would have cost us a lot more than $79.)
..."
http://www.lasvegassun.com/photos/2009/feb/10/21668/

FINALLY, I am headed to Vegas, nearly after 4 years and my first stop without a joke is Frankies. I am really looking forward to it... I havent been this excited to go to Vegas since Taboo Cove, and earlier VLV years! Thursday night and maybe Friday night, time permitting. No need to report back, as I already know its going to be great!

I am the bass player for Thee Swank Bastards and DJ Beelzebozo Partidge. Just Letting all of you know that every First Friday I will be spinning records in Frankie's from 10pm till at least 2am. On the platter will be surf, exotica, garage, and a tad bit of soul and funk. Call me at 702-324-3848 or email me at shaunwcoleman@gmail.com I expect to see you all there.